David
Ruggles was
born
in
Norwich, Connecticut in 1810. After moving to New
York City in 1829 he worked as a grocer.
Ruggles joined the anti-slavery movement
and in 1833 began working for the journal, Emancipator
and Public Morals.
The following year he became America's first Afro-African bookseller
when he opened a bookstore near Broadway. Ruggles also wrote several
anti-slavery pamphlets including Extinguisher,
Extinguished (1834) and Abrogation
of the Seventh Commandment by the American Churches
(1835).
Ruggles worked as a conductor on the Underground
Railroad (1835-38) and was one of those who helped Frederick
Douglass when he arrived in New York.
He was also secretary of the New
York Vigilance Society, an organization that helped defend African
Americans in court.
In 1838 Ruggles became editor of the Mirror
of Liberty. In 1846 Ruggles opened
a Hydropathy Centre where he treated a large number of people including
William Lloyd Garrison and Sojourner
Truth. He also campaigned for the desegregation of private transportation.
David Ruggles
died in Florence, Massachusetts, on 26th December, 1849.
(1)
Frederick Douglass, Narrative of
the Life of Frederick Douglass (1845)
After my arrival at New York,
I said I felt like one who had escaped a den of hungry lions. This
state of mind, however, very
soon subsided; and I was again seized with a feeling of great insecurity
and loneliness. I was yet liable to be taken back, and subjected to
all the tortures of slavery. This in itself was enough to damp the
ardor of my enthusiasm. But the loneliness overcame me. The motto
which I adopted when I started from slavery was this - "Trust
no man!" I saw in every white man an enemy, and in almost every
colored man cause for distrust. It was a most painful situation; and,
to understand it, one must needs experience it, or imagine himself
in similar circumstances. Let him be a fugitive slave in a strange
land, a land given up to be the hunting-ground for slaveholders, whose
inhabitants are legalized kidnappers, where he is every moment subjected
to the terrible liability of being seized upon by his fellowmen, as
the hideous crocodile seizes upon his prey! Say, let him place himself
in my situation, without home or friends, without money or credit,
wanting shelter, and no one to give it, wanting bread, and no money
to buy it, and at the same time let him feel that he is pursued by
merciless men-hunters, and in total darkness as to what to do, where
to go, or where to stay.
Thank Heaven, I remained but a short time in this
distressed situation. I was relieved from it by the humane hand of
Mr. David Ruggles, whose vigilance, kindness, and perseverance, I
shall never forget. I am glad of an opportunity to express, as far
as words can, the love and gratitude I bear him. Mr. Ruggles is now
afflicted with blindness, and is himself in need of the same kind
offices which he was once so forward in the performance of toward
others. I had been in New York but a few days, when Mr. Ruggles sought
me out, and very kindly took me to his boarding-house at the corner
of Church and Lespenard Streets.
Very soon after I went to Mr. Ruggles, he wished
to know of me where I wanted to go; as he deemed it unsafe for me
to remain in New York. I told him I was a calker, and should like
to go where I could get work. I thought of going to Canada; but he
decided against it, and in favor of my going to New Bedford, thinking
I should be able to get work there at my trade.
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